Steam-engine governor



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet- 1. S. S. BABBITT. STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR.

No. 436,394. Patented Sept. 16, 1890 MTHEEEEE. lqvEqTnq a 1 .0% w 4W .24QM ZMAQJ 0; a

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. S. BABBITT.

STEAM ENGINE GOVERNOR. No. 436,394. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

WHHHEESEE; I 6

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEXVARD S. BABBITT, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-ENGINE GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,394, datedSeptember 16, 1890.-

l l 1 Application filed August 17,1889. $eria1No. 321,176- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SEWARD S. BABBITT, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Steam Engine Governors; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to an improvement in steam-engine governors of thatclass wherein the several parts of the governor are attached to andrevolve with the fly-wheel or pulley secured to the main shaft of't-heengine and operate to vary and adjust the position of the eccentric, soas to control the movements of the engine-valve.

My improvement consists in such construction and relative combination ofparts, which will be hereinafter described and claimed, and whichoperate so that the centrifugal force of swinging weights is caused toact upon an eccentric and change its position with relation to the mainshaft, and thereby for the introduction of heavy matter or filling toincrease the centrifugal force, and also making such pocketed weightsadjustable, whereby their action shall be properly proportioned to thespeed of the engine.

In my improved governor the radius of the swing of the eccentric bearsthe same relation to the length of the eccentric-rod as the crank doesto the length of the connectingrod of the engine, causing the valve tohave the same relative variable travel as the piston of the engine onwhich it operates, and thedistance from the center of the eccentric toits pin is maintained whereby the variable lead due to its arch ofrotation is obviated, and instead thereof a movement known as the linkprinciple adopted, so that the variable speed and travel of the valve isthe same relatively as the piston of the engine.

My invention also consists in the application of a weight to one side ofthe governor-case and'a receptacle or pocket therein, permitting anincreased quantity of ponderable matter to be added as required and inproper position to correctly balance the eccentric and other parts,whereby a balance is at all times maintained.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand the mechanicalstructure of my improved governor, I willproceed to describe the same byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents asteam-engine governor embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transversevertical section of the same.

In the practice of my invention I make use of a spider, on which theoperative parts of the governor are mounted, and this spider issurrounded bycircular case 1,which may serve either as a belt-pulley orfly-wheel, as required. Within this circular case 1 and on the spiderwithin the same is pivoted an eccentric 2, so as toswing in an arc andmove in a vertical plane. This eccentric is in the form of a ring withan open center, in order that its movements may not be interfered withby the main shaft 3 or any part thereof. A double-ended lever 4: isattached to the cocentric and projects outward from opposite sides of apivot 5. -Weighted arms 6 are pivoted to the spider of the circular case1 upon opposite sides of its axis and near its rim. Links 7 connectthese arms 6 with the extremities of the double-ended lever l. Eachpivoted arm 6 is provided with an adjustable weight 8, provided withreceptacles or pockets 25, whereby additional matter maybe introduced toincrease their ponderosity, if required. A bracket 10, firmly attachedto the arms 11 of the spider forming a part of the circular case 1, isprovided with a cushion or elastic pad 9, that reclines against the arm6 when the governor is at rest, and thus prevents the free end of thearms from being carried too far in that direction. A quantity of metalis added to the levers 6 at the point 26, so that the action of itscentrifugal force will neutralize the friction on the upper side of thepin 27, caused by the action of the weights and springs. A knife-edgejoint 28 reduces thefriction at that point and dispenses withlubrication. A long spiral spring 12 has one end attached to the lever Aand its other end connected to the inner rim of the circular case 1 or aprojecting eyepiece 13, secured thereto by means of a bolt, and this endof the spring 12 is fitted with a screw-nut 14, whereby its tension. maybe diminished or increased, and this spring is used to furnish suchcentrepetal forceor resistance as is necessary to a proper action of theparts.

A counterbalancing-weight 15 is securedto the rim of the circular case1, and is provided with receptacles or pockets, as shown by dotted linesin Fig. 1, for the introduction of such substances as will increase itsweight and equipoise the eccentric and its immediate attachments.

The yoke 16 of the eccentric 2 is made in two halves joined and heldtogether by means of lugs 17 and suitable bolts 18, whereby it may bereadily adjusted and fixedin place or removed, as desired; and this yoke16 is also provided, in addition to its other parts, witha projectingboss 19, fitted with a cross-bar 20, through which one end of thevalve-rod 21 passes, and is made adjustable therein by a screw-nut 22 inopposite sides of said bar.

The drawings represent the moving parts of this governor as all locatedon one side of its eccentric; but they may be disposed partly on oneside and partly on the other side without detracting from my invention.The counterbalance -Weight 15 may also be located upon either side ofthe circular case, as desired, to prevent improper motion of thecocentric naturally due to the action of gravity upon it. The links 7hold to the arms 6 by pivots 23, each an equal distance from the centeroscillation, the length of the links and specified relation of partsbeing such as to produce a parallel motion and balance the action of theweighted levers upon the eccentric when the governor is in operation.The spring serves to apply the requisite centripetal force to thepivoted levers rand cause their mechanism to act quickly upon thecocentric and keep it steady while in action. If desirable, the severalparts maybe adapted for rotating with the circular case 1 in eitherdirection.

Having thus described my improvement, what I claim is 1. In agovernor,the combination of a spider which is weighted at a point in therim thereof, an eccentric, a double-armed lever pivoted to the spiderand eccentric at a point on the opposite side of the eccentric from theside on which the rim of the spider is weighted, the weighted leverspivoted on the spider near the rim thereof, a long link intermediate ofone arm of the lever and one of the weighted levers, a short linkbetween the other arm of the lever and the weighted lever, and a singlespring connected to the same armof the double-armed lever as the shortlink and to the rim of the spider,-as described.

2. In a governor substantially as described, the combination of a spiderweighted at one side of the rim thereof, an eccentric, a doublearmedlever pivoted to the spider and eccentric, the weighted levers pivotedon the spider, the long and short links intermediate of the arms of thelever and the levers, said links being connected to the levers by theknife-edge joints 28, and a single spring connected to one of the armsof the double-armed lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of May, A.D. 1889.

SEWARD S. BABBITT. Witnesses:

A. O. JOHNSTON, O. S. JOHNSTON.

